Seoul Metropolitan Library

seoul metropolitan government logo

서울도서관 로고

Request an Item

New Book information service book request apply
(These menus are only provided in Korean)

Availability

  • Only the members who have been issued a library card can make a book request

How to Apply

  • Log in to the Seoul Metropolitan Library website → My Page → Click 'Book Request'
    Or click the 'Apply for Book Request' at the center of the main page

Book Request Application menu

  • You can make a book request while searching the domestic newly published book information
  • If you wish to enter the book information yourself, make sure to enter the accurate title, author, publisher, ISBN, and year of publishing.
    If the book information is not accurate, the purchase may be delayed or rejected. (Book information can be found in bookstore websites, etc.)

Limit on the Number of Book Requests

  • 3 books a month, 15 a year per person

Process of the Book Request (Book Reservation)

  • It takes 2 to 3 weeks for the requested book to go through the selection process, purchased, and ready for use.
  • When the desired book becomes available in the collections room, the book will be reserved for the applicant.
  • However, if the applicant has books that are overdue or have reached the limit on the number of books that can be reserved, the reservation will be cancelled.
  • Process of the book request
    1.Application/Process(Takes 6~7 days) 2.Purchase Order Placed(Cancelled if the book request is rejected, Takes 7~8 days) 3.Organization(Takes 7~8 days) 4.Available(Takes about 3 weeks)
    Application/Process

    Takes 6~7 days

    Purchase Order Placed
    ※ Cancelled if the book request is rejected

    Takes 7~8 days

    Organization

    Takes 7~8 days

    Available

    Takes about 3 weeks

Books that cannot be Requested

  • Workbooks, exam books, middle and high school reference books
  • Fantasy, romance, chivalrous novels
  • Webtoons, light novels, comic books
  • Reference books such as yearbooks, white papers, reports, etc.
  • Materials with commercial or political purposes
  • Harmful material that may cause problems with public morals, cause public disorder, etc., R-rated books with sexually graphic contents
  • Periodicals and electronic materials (non-books such as e-books, DVDs, etc.) ※ If deemed necessary, a separate non-book purchase guideline will be applied
  • Foreign books, specialized books in specific fields
  • Materials published more than 5 years ago (2 years for new computer science fields)
  • Expensive books (more than 50,000 KRW), foreign books, series or complete books exceeding 3 volumes, and books for which other standards are difficult to apply
  • Materials that are difficult to use and manage, such as spring binding or single-page materials (leaflets), 3D books, sheet music, coloring books, transcriptions, etc., that are too small in size or make noises when used
  • Books that are already in possession, books being purchased or organized, books already requested or ordered
  • Books whose bibliography is unknown, unpublished, not for sale, sold out or out of print.
  • If there is a large collection of similar books
  • If an old edition is requested even though a new edition has been published
  • If the material is deemed to be used for personal profit or profit for the publisher

    ※ If any of the books excluded from the selection are deemed necessary, they may be purchased through deliberation by the Regular Purchase Material Selection Committee.

Seoul Metropolitan Library collection composition and acquisition plan